Snapshot

• Why Kanpur–Unnao is iconic:
  The twin cities of Kanpur and Unnao form India’s biggest leather product and equestrian gear cluster, accounting for nearly 40% of India’s leather saddlery and harness exports. The region has a legacy of leather craftsmanship dating back to the British era, when Kanpur was known as the “Manchester of the East” for leather and textiles.
  
• Global Positioning:
  Kanpur–Unnao is a Council for Leather Exports (CLE) hub and a global leader in saddlery, harness gear, gloves, boots, and leather accessories. Buyers from Europe, USA, Middle East, Australia source equestrian equipment and footwear from this cluster.
  

Product Range

Category	Key Products
Saddlery & Harness	Saddles, bridles, harnesses, reins, belts
Equestrian Accessories	Saddle pads, girths, stirrup leathers, halters
Leather Footwear	Riding boots, formal shoes, safety shoes, sandals
Gloves & Hand Gear	Industrial gloves, riding gloves, workwear
Fashion Leather Goods	Bags, wallets, belts, travel accessories
Technical Products	Fire-resistant, industrial and safety gear

Cluster Strengths

Feature	Details
Export Powerhouse	Exports leather goods to over 80 countries; a global leader in saddlery
Raw Material Hub	Tanning units for bovine and buffalo hides
Integrated Ecosystem	Over 400 tanneries and 1,500+ export-oriented manufacturing units
Skill Legacy	Generations of artisans specializing in hand-stitching, tooling, and finish
CLE Recognition	Supported by CLE under Ministry of Commerce for export competitiveness

Materials & Sustainability

• Materials: Bovine and buffalo leather, cow leather, suede, nubuck, chrome-tanned and vegetable-tanned hides.
  
• Innovation:
  
  • Mechanization and automation in footwear assembly lines
    
  • Equestrian gear with technical padding and eco-finishes
    
  • Computerized cutting and CAD pattern-making
    
• Sustainability Efforts:
  
  • Jajmau CETP (Common Effluent Treatment Plant) operational to meet Zero Liquid Discharge goals
    
  • Leather Working Group (LWG) certification initiatives for export tanneries
    
  • Compliance with REACH, CPSIA, ISO 14001 for eco-friendly leather production
    

Cluster Infrastructure

• Geographical Spread: Kanpur (Jajmau leather belt, Magarwara) and Unnao (Banthar Leather Technology Park)
  
• Industrial Parks:
  
  • Banthar Leather Technology Park with integrated tanning, R&D, and testing labs
    
  • Leather Industrial Estate (Jajmau) housing SMEs and exporters
    
• Institutions:
  
  • Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI)
    
  • Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) in Unnao
    
  • CFTI (Central Footwear Training Institute) for skill development
    
• Connectivity: Close proximity to Lucknow Airport and dry ports for exports
  

Compliance & Certifications

Certification	Details
LWG Certification	Adopted by top tanneries for sustainable sourcing
ISO 9001/14001	Quality and environmental compliance
REACH, CPSIA	Compliance for EU/US market access
Fair Trade	Growing adoption among artisan cooperatives
CLE Membership	Support for export promotion and participation in global fairs

Production Timelines & MOQs

Product Type	Sampling Lead Time	Bulk Lead Time	MOQ Guidance
Saddlery & Harness Gear	10–14 days	6–8 weeks	100–300 pcs/design
Footwear (Formal/Boots)	14–20 days	8–10 weeks	500–1,000 pairs/style
Bags & Leather Goods	10–14 days	6–8 weeks	300–500 pcs/design
Gloves & Safety Gear	7–10 days	4–6 weeks	500+ pairs

Branding & Packaging

• Branding: Embossed/laser-etched logos, QR-coded labels, SKU tracking
  
• Packaging: Luxury boxes for premium goods; corrugated cartons for saddlery exports; moisture-resistant wrappings
  
• Marketing Narrative:
  “Kanpur–Unnao: India’s global leather heartland, producing world-class saddlery, footwear, and accessories with sustainable tanning practices.”
  

Quality Control (IndiaUnbox Protocol)

• Leather QC: Thickness, tensile strength, tear resistance, chemical analysis
  
• Product QC: Stitch quality, tooling, finish, fit trials (footwear)
  
• Safety Testing: PPE compliance (EN/ASTM) for gloves and boots
  
• Export QC: ISTA packaging tests for long-haul containerized shipments
  

Price Drivers

• Leather quality (full-grain, top-grain, split leather)
  
• Tanning process (vegetable vs chrome-free)
  
• Craft complexity (hand-tooled saddlery, bespoke footwear)
  
• Certification costs (LWG audits, REACH testing)
  
• Volume and customization (private-label branding)
  

Buyer Confidence Signals

• CLE Hub: Officially recognized by Council for Leather Exports
  
• Sustainability Leadership: CETPs, ZLD projects, and LWG-certified tanneries
  
• Skill Depth: Generations of artisans specialized in saddlery & footwear
  
• Global Prestige: Supplies to equestrian brands in UK, EU, US, Australia
  
• Technology & Training: FDDI and CLRI-backed R&D and training programs